Champion Challenge: Players to Watch

Champion Challenge, a US Lacrosse event, will pit the U.S.
national teams against college foes this weekend at the ESPN Wide
World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Here are six
players to watch from the various teams competing. Two games --
Team USA vs. Notre Dame men and Team USA vs. Maryland women -- will
be broadcast on delay by ESPNU beginning at 10 p.m. Sunday.

Katie Gallagher, Maryland,
Sr., Defense

Why It's Big for Her: After redshirting last
season due to illness, Gallagher is being asked to lead the Terps'
defense. Maryland is coming off a national championship year, and
though Gallagher wasn't a huge part of the accomplishment on the
field, playing in just four of 23 games, the low defender is one of
three team captains this season. She'll lead the 'D' into a tough
preseason assignment: facing a U.S. senior squad filled with
offensive stars.

Shannon Gilroy, USA U19,
Midfield

Why It's Big for Her: Nicknamed "The Franchise"
by teammates at Northport High School on Long Island, where she's
been a starter since eighth grade, Gilroy has a chance to gel with
U.S. teammates as they prepare for August's FIL U19 World
Championship in Hannover, Germany. The Florida-bound senior scored
97 goals and had 33 assists for Northport in 2010 despite missing
four games with a hamstring injury. She scored a Long Island-high
113 goals in 2009.

John Kemp, Notre Dame, Soph.,
Goalie

Why It's Big for Him: Notre Dame's stout
defense has a big chest protector to fill in the absence of 2010
NCAA tournament MVP, goaltender Scott Rodgers. Kemp, a sophomore
and brother of former Irish All-American goalie Joey Kemp, competed
with fifth-year senior Brendan Moore in the fall. Kemp figures to
have the edge as he started two games in 2010 when Rodgers was
injured. Another bonus: When Notre Dame faces Team USA, Kemp could
play against Rodgers, pending his National Lacrosse League
status.

Peet Poillon, USA,
Midfield

Why It's Big for Him: The UMBC grad lit up
Major League Lacrosse this summer with the champion Chesapeake
Bayhawks, earning MLL most improved player honors with 41 points,
third highest in the league. That was up from seven points
Poillon's rookie season, which he mainly spent on the Boston
Cannons' practice squad. How will he hang with Team USA?

Michelle Tumolo, USA,
Attack

Why It's Big for Her: The USA staff indicated
Tumolo may have a bright future in the national program when they
made the Syracuse attacker the only true rising sophomore collegian
(James Madison's Casey Ancarrow is a redshirt sophomore) on the U.S
women's senior team. This is a chance to again show why that was
the correct move. Tumolo set Syracuse freshman records in points
(74) and assists (37) in 2010, helping the Orange to the NCAA
semifinals.

Max Quinzani, USA,
Attack

Why It's Big for Him: Former Duke teammate Ned
Crotty has garnered plenty of accolades over recent years,
including LM's 2010 Player of the Year honors. But Quinzani, often
the finisher of Crotty's feeds, has been right there with him on
the field — aside from the 2010 FIL World Championships last
summer, when Crotty was the only then-current collegian on Team
USA. Quinzani has an early chance here to impress selectors for the
2014 U.S. team.

Champion Challenge, a US Lacrosse
event featuring the U.S. men's and women's national teams against
top college programs, returns to ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Jan. 29-30, 2011. Click here for more information,
including game and clinic schedules.